This Directive contains provisions aimed at ensuring a better level of protection of the health and safety of workers. Under this Directive, businesses are obligated to ensure that an appropriate level of health and safety protection when hazardous chemical substances and mixtures are present in the working environment. Particular attention should be paid to employees within professions where there is frequent contact with hazardous substances and mixtures.
For some context, Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council established a new system for the classification and labelling of substances and mixtures within the Union, based on the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) at international level, within the framework of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe. Furthermore, Council Directives 92/58/EEC, 92/85/EEC, 94/33/EC and 98/24/EC, and Directive 2004/37/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council contain references to the previous classification and labelling system. This Directive makes amendments to the above mentioned legislation.
